Body odor can be caused by a variety of circumstances or conditions. First, it’s important to know that what you smell, most often, is the presence of certain bacteria. Profuse sweating, certain foods, alcohol and cigarette smoke, or the inability to metabolize some minerals may cause excessive odor, which may be difficult to deal with only by using antiperspirant or deodorants. Not all body odor occurs under the arms; you may be dealing with feet that smell very bad, odor in the genital region, or an overall odor of the skin.
First and foremost, if you have unpleasant body odor you should be certain to shower or bathe daily, and make sure you wash your clothing after each wear. You can use deodorant soap on the arms and body, but pick a gentler soap for the face. Plan to shower after any activities that require excessive physical exertion, in addition to taking your daily shower. Change your bed linens once a week so you’re not picking up lingering smells from your sheets.
Some people find they’re able to stop odor by using deodorant or antiperspirant. It can also help to keep the underarms shaved, since hair in these areas tends to hold onto bacteria. You can remove excess bacteria by swabbing the underarms with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel before applying deodorant. Some people swear by aluminum crystal deodorant, and a dusting of baking powder can help soak up odor and sweat as well. Since all these applications can be a mess, consider deodorants that contain baking powder, aluminum, and witch hazel.
If you have trouble with feet that are smelly, consider doing an alcohol or witch hazel wash of the feet each day. Baking powder and cornstarch can help to dry sweaty feet. Furthermore you can use "odor eating" shoe inserts or sprays to help control persistent foot odor.
Sometimes, people with zinc deficiency have more body odor than normal. It can help to take a zinc supplement to see if this helps the condition. Certain foods can cause more odor too, especially foods like fish and garlic or onions, so you may want to skip these if odor is pronounced. People may have trouble digesting foods that contain choline, which include foods like eggs, fish, and beans. If you have a lot of these in your diet and are plagued with too much odor despite daily washing, consider eliminating these foods from your diet.
An astringent solution called Domeboro® helps some people. Prepackaged aluminum acetate in powdered form is mixed with water, making it easy to use over the counter. This may be helpful for those who have persistent trouble with fungal infections and other skin irritations.
Although body odor is often the result of bacteria, it can be caused by fungal infections. If you have persistent odor on the feet or in the skin folds around or in the genitals, you may have a yeast infection. If you also notice itching, see a medical professional to find out if yeast infections are the cause of the problem.